It would be fair to say that the ‘ideas team’ of School Strike 4 Climate Aotearoa is pushing for bigger. 2023 began with a nationwide strike for climate justice (no small feat), followed only a few months later by a nationwide week of climate action designed to unify groups and encourage voting for the climate in the lead-up to the national election. Still, they’re going bigger – a nationwide strike which will be supported by and inclusive of trade unions, Te Tiriti o Waitangi justice groups, Palestinian liberation groups, queer rights groups, feminist groups, and more, is planned for April 5th. SS4C Otautahi’s Aurora Garner-Randolph, a passionate climate activist, discussed SS4C and their kaupapa more.
Who/what is School Strike 4 Climate? What drives you?
“School Strike 4 Climate is a movement that came out of the Fridays for Future strikes started by Greta Thunberg. It’s a youth-led movement that spread here to Aotearoa and is a coalition of young people who care deeply about climate justice and related social justice issues as well. We’re fighting for the planet, but we’re also fighting for social issues like a free Palestine and Te Tiriti justice.”
“Climate justice is so inherently tied to the liberation of indigenous people, and the capitalist causes of climate change are the same colonialist causes of the oppression of indigenous people. We cannot pretend that those things are not connected.”
“What drives us is a care for people, a knowing that a better world is possible, and hoping that the actions and the strikes and the protests we take will have some effect in moving us in a positive direction.”
Intersectional activism is so important, and we can see that reflected in the SS4C kaupapa. What about intergenerationality? Could you tell us about the Aotearoa Climate Strikes Coalition?
“ACSC is a broader grouping of people from all generations who care about climate justice and related issues. So, we use that network to coordinate strikes, protests, and events across the motu. Climate justice is a cause for everyone.”
So many people struggle with feeling like this isn’t a space for them or that they won’t make a difference – what would you say to encourage them to come along?
“I talk to a lot of people who are like, ‘I sense that something is wrong with the climate, but I don’t have the language to articulate it,’ or ‘I don’t feel quite empowered to do something about it,’ and I think that’s very common. Many people feel like that – I still feel like that.”
“You’ve got to push past that imposter syndrome, you’ve got to push past that worry because you know more than you think you do, and you’re on the right side of history. Getting out there and meeting like-minded people who can mentor and guide you, who you can work alongside, will make you feel so much better.”
“Even if you’re not sure if SS4C is the right thing for you, meeting people in different networks and coming to protests and talking to people is the best way to get involved, and you can find a group or a niche or even start your own things just by talking to people and learning in the activism space.”
All of your strikes are important, but you mentioned the upcoming April 5th one being especially so – why?
“Climate change is no longer (not that it ever was) just an issue for ‘greeny hippies’ who are deeply political to care about. It’s something for everyone from all walks of life and all backgrounds to care about because it’s going to affect us all if it’s not already deeply. This is regarding food insecurity, in terms of losing our homes and loved ones to extreme weather events, like in the recent floods last year, and so much more.”
“If you care about climate justice, if you think that people deserve basic human rights and security in Aotearoa and worldwide, if you care about reducing emissions or any kind of progressive social issues, then you need to be out there on April 5th, because we are joining together with such a broad coalition of progressive groups. This is going to be the biggest strike ever, the most exciting one ever, and the most crucial strike that we’ve had, so we’ll see you out there on the streets.”
How can others get involved?
“The number one thing to do is to go follow us on social media - we’ve got Instagram, we’ve got Twitter (X), we’ve got Facebook, we’ve got TikTok. Come along to our April 5th strike. We think it’s going to be a big one, especially with this new government in power. It’s an important one as the tipping point for the 2-degree warming* creeps ever closer – we want to be calling for reductions of emissions now. If you want to get involved in organising, we’re always looking for passionate people to join us. Just DM us; we’re always happy to have people – no matter your experience or knowledge.”
*The 2-degree warming point Aurora is referring to is the target decided upon in the Paris Agreement as an international climate policy limit [compared to ‘pre-industrialization levels (1850–1900)] for global warming. Many people argue that 2 degrees is too high, yet, as Aurora says, it is creeping ever closer.
You can find School Strike 4 Climate on:
Instagram: @schoolstrike4climatenz
X: @SS4CNZ
TikTok: @SS4CNZ
Facebook: @School Strike 4 Climate NZ